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New planning guidance
The West Sussex Gazette has a long report. Extracts below:
A highly significant change in the guidance says that councils will no longer have to identify specific sites for development for the last five years of their 15-year plans. The provision was widely seen as unrealistic and was forcing councils to allocate unpopular ‘strategic sites’ for development, like the proposed new Mayfield ‘market town’.
The new guidance also states that infrastructure constraints must be considered in assessing a site’s suitability for development. This addresses a key local concern in West Sussex, where there is a strong feeling that development is allowed without the necessary infrastructure, such as roads and drainage, to support it.
The new planning guidance also addresses another local concern by making clear that emerging local plans should be given weight in decision-making even before they are passed.
The new guidance also encourages brownfield development and clarifies the ‘duty to co-operate’, under which neighbouring councils are required to consult each other on their plans.
A place to park
The Shoreham Herald reports:
Just three schools in the whole of Shoreham, Southwick, Steyning and Upper Beeding are currently covered by a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). Despite the majority of schools using School Keep Clear (SKC) markings near entrance gates, the rest have no TRO, meaning the police cannot take any action if people park on them. West Sussex county councillor Robin Rogers has led a lengthy campaign since he found out in 2009 that all but 10% of SKC were totally unenforceable.
A TRO does currently apply to Upper Beeding Primary.
South Downs PLOD 2014
Your chance to walk from Devil’s Dyke to Beachy Head starting at midnight on 25th July for just £150.00 per five-person team (one in a car). Details here.
Reconfiguration ~ Transfiguration
Work has started on the new loo and kitchen at Pyecombe Church. The Reverend Caroline Currer comments:
The church is the only public meeting place available in the village, and is used for meetings and events such as parish council meetings. We believe the extension and its facilities will encourage the start-up of smaller local, social groups such as coffee mornings and informal meetings. In addition, the toilet facilities will encourage greater links with the many hundreds of charities and groups who organise sponsored walks, bike rides and the challenges along the South Downs Way.
Landfill Communities
The South Downs National Park Authority reports:
The Veolia Environmental Trust have awarded a grant of £40,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund which is helping to improving the chalk grassland near Saddlescombe Farm, Brighton, where rare and threatened butterfly species such as the Small Blue, Chalkhill Blue and the Brown Argus can still be found. The funding means that newly improved chalk grassland on the edge of Waterhall Golf Course will join up with chalk grassland already managed by Brighton and Hove City Council — increasing the area that the butterflies can call home by 50 per cent.
Beeding Flower Show
Beeding and Bramber Horticultural Society are having their spring show in the Village Hall, Upper Beeding, from 10:30am to 1:00pm on Saturday March 15th. Last year’s spring show was cancelled due to heavy snow.
Small but perfectly formed
Tutor: Laurie Jackson
Venue: Woods Mill
Date: Friday 11th April
Time: 10:00 — 16:00
This course looks at identifying small mammals and their field signs, conservation status, introduction to ecology (distribution, habitat requirements), survey and monitoring.
Highways A23gency
Drainage works at Randolph’s Copse:
Work is currently programmed from 10 March until the end of May. The works are located on the A23 between its junctions with Patcham Interchange and the B2117 to the north of Brighton.
Lighting relocation, Hickstead–Bolney–Pease Pottage
The work will all be carried out overnight and involve carriageway and lane closures. It is expected to be completed on the morning of Thursday 17 April.
These works are additional to the “major improvements” to the A23 that local readers will already be very familiar with.
Two ways for you to help our village
Spring is almost upon us so please come along to the North Town Field next Saturday to help us get it ready for the long warm days to come. Bring gardening tools please.
John Hazard
[on behalf of the North Town Field Trust]
Please get involved in keeping the village tidy and free of rubbish.
There are four meeting points:
- Party 1 starts at the corner of Clappers/Holmbush lanes and moves South;
- Party 2 starts at the corner of The Street/Clappers Lane and moves North;
- Party 3 meets at the Ram House by the Shepherd and Dog and moves up The Street;
- Party 4 meets at The Deans in Poynings Road and moves towards The Street.
Take care of traffic, wear bright colours and please bring suitable gloves and bin liners to collect the rubbish. Dispose of collected rubbish in your wheelie bins. If this time is not convenient choose your own time and do your bit. Perhaps ending up at the Shepherd & Dog for a well earned pint!
Any queries give me a call on 271.
Bob Rowland
[on behalf of Fulking Social Committee]